Joe Knox

The Wheel of Fire

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Hailing from the Mexican border fence of south San Diego, Joe Knox was the first of his family to be born in the United States. Joe began his musical career at the tender age of four with a simple fascination for his father's guitar. By age six he received his first musical instrument, a fake guitar that made sounds with various buttons and knobs; a gift from his great uncle that would forever change his life. It wasn't long before he plunged head first into his God given obsession. Mastering classical guitar by high school, Joe was a prodigy of musical theory. His intuitive sense of musical direction brought him to endeavor in jazz and musical production. Surrounded by a hip-hop saturated community, Joe also found a passion in bboying, or breakdancing, at a young age. Unfortunately, this was something he could not nurture as a child due to racial discrimination, and discouragement in his immediate community.

By the end of high school Joe was accepted to the University of California, San Diego's prestigious new music program, where his ability continued to grow. At UCSD, Joe found his musical mentor in acclaimed jazz pianist Kamau Kenyatta; well known for his musical works in jazz, and with pop groups like New Kids on the Block, and SWV. In Joe's third year of college he was awarded a 199 scholarship to continue his musical education strictly with Mr. Kenyatta, which he maintained till graduation. It was also at UCSD that he met Babak Badei, a founding member of Soul Control crew, and was able to rekindle his passion for breakdance with proper instruction.

After college Joe worked as a full-time session musician, as well as producer, for MIG Records Inc. and Stamina Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Universal. He directly worked with multi-platinum producer/songwriter Melanie Andrews, whose artists include Earth, Wind, and Fire and Janet Jackson, at Melody Makers Studios in Newport Beach, California. In 2006, Joe Knox opened up his own independent record label/production company, Iris Avenue Records, with his two lifelong friends Atlee "Tha Anthem" Urquhart and Kyle Ginter. In 2008, Joe was accepted on scholarship to UC Irvine's ICIT Program (Integrated Composition Improvisation & Technology) to obtain his master's degree under the tutelage of acclaimed pianist Kei Akagi; pianist for Miles Davis. Immediately upon arrival at UC Irvine, Joe became involved with Bboys Anonymous, an on-campus breakdance club where he became a board member from 2008-2010.

While only one year into his master's program, Joe was able to create a successful, and in demand, breakdance class in the UCI dance department. With the help of Bboys Anonymous, Joe also created a successful underground scene called Live Cypher. Live Cypher brought together live musicians and live bboys for improvisatory interaction. The research involved culminated in not only the completion of his master's degree in 2010, but also in the winning of a grant from the Center for Global Peace and Conflict Studies, to research in West Africa in the summer of 2010.

Production Discography:

Dubeats - Stereo Science (Full Album) - 2001

UCSD Jazz Ensemble Live 1/31/02

Shammy Dee - Transcripted Thoughts ("Just Like a Baby") - 2006

Be-1 - One Night at the Coffee Shop (Full Album) - 2006

Vejae - The Order of Things ("Daybreak") - 2007

Joe Knox - Riding the Kali Dragon (Full Album) - 2008

Tha Anthem - The Exception, Not the Rule (Full Album) - 2008

Rochone - Photographs ("Photograph" "Undone" "Get It Started" "Fame" "Jealousy" "Taking My Life Back From You" "Time" "Happy") - 2008

Joe Knox - B Side Story: An Original Musical, Dance Performance, and Master's Thesis Recital - 2010

Joe Knox - The Wheel of Fire (Full Album) - Unreleased

Tha Anthem - Act Right or Get Left (Full Album) - Unreleased

Tha Anthem - Claim to the Throne (Full Album) - In Production

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